| Stones have been worn by both women and | | | | diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The |
| men since prehistoric times. Just as in the jewelry | | | | pearl is oftentimes classed with precious stones. |
| of modern times, beautiful stones, rare and | | | | Although strictly speaking while it is not a stone it |
| colorful, are most often the dominant feature of | | | | holds an esteemed place in jewelry.Semi-Precious |
| a piece with a metallic setting for | | | | StonesA large number of stones used in jewelry |
| ornamentation.The stones used in the crafting of | | | | are known as semi-precious; the most important |
| fine jewelry are generally divided into two classes- | | | | ones are as follow: amethyst, lapis-lazuli, turquoise, |
| precious stones and semi-precious stones.These | | | | aquamarine, topaz, moonstone, peridot, opal, |
| terms are used heavily in the commercial world of | | | | tourmaline, zircon, chrysoberyl, alexandrite. Others |
| jewelry when considering variety and value. While | | | | of less importance although much used are: |
| artistic merits are only a matter of opinion, the | | | | chrysoprase, jade, garnet, agate, azurite, |
| value of a stone is what it will bring in the | | | | malachite, bloodstone, coral, carnelian and many |
| marketplace. It should also be mentioned that | | | | others. These stones while comparatively |
| many people, collectors and general consumers | | | | common and inexpensive are indispensable to the |
| alike, prefer the rare to the beautiful.These stones | | | | worker in jewelry. The variety of colors to be |
| are simply rocks (minerals) taken from the earth, | | | | had in these stones make it possible to produce |
| and after they have been enhanced by the | | | | unusual designs of artistic merit and to adapt |
| artisans cutting and polishing, the finest and rarest | | | | them to the personality and costume of the |
| of them are what we call gems.Precious | | | | wearer. |
| StonesThe most precious stones are the | | | | |